Cast your minds back to the 5th August, where we pick up from last time (I feel guilty even for having to write that sentence, it was so long ago). With exams looming at Nowak Primary School and a promise of a fun, stress-free week, we spent most of our last week revitalising their rather tired-looking mural, and spending time with the people we'd miss most. When Jenita mentioned quickly visiting a friend from the youth group, I figured that jeans, a jumper and a quick wash of my hair to remove the most obvious paint would suffice. What we didn't know is that we weren't just popping in to Mrs Kruse's on the way - the Nowak staff had organised a surprise leaving braai for us. After Friday morning's exams, we had a leaving assembly organised for us, featuring the whole school and even some people from the youth group. It was absolutely fantastic, and each grade had prepared something as a farewell performance - we cried, the kids cried, Mrs Kruse cried. We really were leaving, and we really were leaving so much behind.
I spent the weekend visiting the local hot springs with some of the staff and having a leaving party with our youth group, before spending Sunday night welcoming the new German volunteers and saying goodbye to Sachi, Pia and Jenita. Leaving the three of them, the staff, the kids and the community was difficult - Caitlin and I cried for at least half an hour afterwards - but we left to join the rest of our country group in Windhoek. After lots of catching up in our hostel, the four Particip8 volunteers decided that we needed a proper send-off : the answer was a visit to the Skybar on the roof of the Hilton. It was a far cry from our backpackers, but indulging in overpriced gins & tonic and champagne looking over the city lights of Windhoek in the company of friends was a perfect end to our time in Namibia. After safe flights from Windhoek via Johannesburg and London, I can finally consider myself a Returned Volunteer.
Since coming home, I have attended Project Trust's Debriefing weekend, done my first promotional school talk and have started to come round to the mystical world of Tesco and Starbucks. Settling in again has been rather mixed, as I try to balance the 'old' life I've always known and my 'new' life that I've left in Tses, but I'm thoroughly looking forward to university and will keep my experiences overseas close to me for as long as I live. I'd like to thank all of my friends, family, sponsors, readers, fellow volunteers and Project Trust staff - your support throughout has been utterly invaluable, and I can't tell you how grateful I am for what that help facilitated for me.
Until the next adventure, folks.....
